[This Week's Books] 'The Decisive World History Read Through Five Elements' and More

Decisive World History Through Five Elements

The course of human history has changed depending on how elements were handled. Copper met tin to open the Bronze Age, and gold met copper to cultivate the modern semiconductor industry. This records 24 decisive moments in history engraved in elements, which are collections of units that can no longer be divided. The author is a promising new energy-related chemist and popular science communicator in China. The five elements the author focuses on are gold, copper, silicon, carbon, and titanium. (Written by Sun Yafei / Translated by Lee Sinhye / The Quest)

Robin Niblett's New Cold War

This analyzes the fierce 'New Cold War' situation of hegemony competition between the United States and China and presents future strategies for countries around the world. With the US-China conflict, wars between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Palestine, the global situation is plunging into even more severe chaos. The author emphasizes that to contain China's expansion, the scope of the Group of Seven (G7) should be expanded, and that the G9, including South Korea and Australia, is a practical alternative. (Written by Robin Niblett / Translated by Jo Minho / MaeKyung)

Oh Kyungseok

This is a novel featuring Oh Kyungseok, a translator in the late Joseon period and the father of Oh Sechang, a leader of the March 1st Independence Movement. Oh Kyungseok traveled to Qing China 13 times as a member of the diplomatic mission, which allowed him to awaken to new cultures and broaden his perspective. He was a comrade and disciple cherished by Chusa Kim Jeonghui and Hwanghyeon Park Gyusu, awakened revolutionary Kim Okgyun, and resisted Heungseon Daewongun's isolationist policies. It depicts the worries and struggles of Oh Kyungseok as an intellectual who cared deeply about the country and its people. (Kim Sanggyu / Mokseonjae)